The declaration of breaking the siege imposed on Deir al-Zour represents a new phase in the history of the Syrian crisis. Most analyses and readings of the event indicate that it is a continuation of the series of field defeats of Daesh [ISIS] terrorist organization. In addition, this event consolidates the appropriate atmosphere for a new advance on the path of the political process, and push it to the stage of direct negotiations between the regime and the opposition, especially as the process goes in parallel with expansion of the de-escalation zones.

Brothers representatives of all parties of the Syrian opposition.
Brothers representatives of the Syrian government delegation.
Gentlemen in the United Nations Special Envoy’s Team to Syria.
Gentlemen representatives of the countries of the "International Syria Support Group".
Gentlemen representatives of the Guarantor States for the de-escalation and cease-fire zones.

Observers of evolution of the Syrian crisis since 2011 have noticed that any hardline position taken by any side has always led to equally hard line ones from the other side, so that the law of action and reaction was the predominant and determining factor in directing the development of events.

The invitation of Moscow and Cairo Platforms [of Syrian opposition] to Riyadh to discuss the formation of one delegation of the Syrian opposition was a new step in securing the necessary elements for the completion of the political process. Regardless of the preliminary results of the meeting and the sharp disagreement that emerged between the platforms on the principles of forming the one delegation. The invitation itself – in its timing, and despite the advance and repeated announcement of the Moscow platform that Riyadh is not the most appropriate place for the meeting – reveals that the new international and regional climate imposes its rhythm on the Syrian scene, and primarily on the political process.

De Mistura is not saying unfounded words The international envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, expected next month to witness the beginning of qualitative changes in the Syrian crisis. De Mistura's statement condenses the summary of international and regional positions and consensuses about the Syrian crisis that were expressed last month, even by the most hardliner countries towards the Syrian file. This reflects the new climate that is taking root at various levels and fields in favor of a political solution.

A consultative meeting between the three opposition platforms - Moscow, Riyadh and Cairo - took place on Monday (August 21st) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, at the invitation of the High Negotiations Committee.

On August 15, 2017, Al-Alam TV channel interviewed Dr. Kadri Jamil, Head of Moscow Platform of Syrian Opposition, and the leader in Change and Liberation Front, and the Secretary of People Will Party. The interview lasted 25 minutes, during which Dr. Kadri spoke about the latest political developments regarding the efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis, and about the de-escalation zones, and the Geneva and Astana talks, and the efforts to form one delegation of the Syrian opposition in preparation for a round of direct negotiations with the delegation of the Syrian Government in Geneva.

One of the most prominent characteristics of a major crisis in history, like the crisis we are experiencing now, is that it usually marks the beginning of a new stage of development of human society – a stage in which “inertia forces” become an obstacle to the necessities of the objective reality, and the road opens for new forces. In other words, it is the time for the old political space to die, and for a new political space to be born on the ruins of the old.

Day after day, more people become convinced of the idea that the countdown for the Syrian crisis has really begun, and that the Syrian political process through Geneva negotiations is about to take a dramatic qualitative turn in the path of negotiation. Among the convinced, there is a wide spectrum of those who had previously doubted the possibility of reaching such a stage.

Kadri Jamil the head of Moscow platform of the Syrian opposition, in an interview with Almyadeen TV (Aug, 08, 2017) , considered that the solution of the Syrian crisis is more mature today”, and that the “de-escalation zones” agreement needs an urgent political consensus to protect Syria. He also confirmed not having received a response to the suggestion made by Moscow platform to held a meeting of the Syrian opposition in Geneva.

Jamil: The Gulf crisis is a natural result of the Syrian crisis

The head of Moscow platform of the Syrian opposition, Kadri Jamil, stressed that “the solution in Syria became more mature today”. He added that “the middle east is no longer a priority for the Americans, and they are preparing to organize their retreat”, pointing out that “the American retroversion is evidently prolonged and persistent”.

Jamil said – through Al Mayadeen’s program, Hadeeth al-Sa’a (the dialouge of the hour): “What is important for the American today is the far east, especially China.”, pointing out to the big difference between the previous international positions toward the Syrian crisis, and the new ones today, putting clearly that “Turkey, Qatar and other states are making a new political swerve in their position of the Syrian crisis.”

Jamil talked about a link between the Gulf states’ crisis and the Syrian crisis, considering the former as a natural result of the latter, as “a result of the involvement of these states in the war on Syria”, adding that “the Gulf crisis is deep, and has a positive effect on the crisis in Syria”.

The head of Moscow platform had also explained that “there is a need to a collective national will of both the opposition and the regime, in order to exit the crisis. The ice had been broken among the various oppositions, and their communication is easier than before”. Jamil stressed that “opposition platforms today do not represent all the spectrum of the Syrian opposition in all its variations”, revealing that “In the eighth round [of the Geneva Intra-Syrian Talks] De Mistura will work on a direct negotiation between the delegation of the opposition and the regime's delegation”.

“De-escalation zones” needs an urgent consensus

About the “de-escalation zones” Jamil said “the agreement of de-escalation zones needs an urgent consensus to protect Syria”, indicating that “the agreement of de-escalation zones, if became persistent, it will raise concerns about the unity of the country”, pointing out that “the Russian intervention has made the project of dividing Syria far fetched”

Jamil also revealed that “the opposition platforms had reached an agreement regarding the basket of the constitution, but we have not yet received a response to our suggestion to held a meeting of the Syrian opposition in Geneva”, stressing that “the Riaydh city is not the appropriate place for the meeting of the opposition”. Jamil added that “Egypt plays a considerable role in resolving the Syrian crisis, and its role may be extended, and there is a considerable degree of rapprochement and similarity of opinions and ideas between Moscow platform and Cairo platform, and this is to be developed further.”

The head of Moscow platform said that “all the neighboring countries of Syria have to contribute in Astana negotiations, because the risk of terrorism is threatening the whole region”, pointing out that “the most important thing for both the Syrian government and opposition is to apply UN resolution 2254.”

Jamil added that “No room for any compromise with Jabhat al-Nusra, because it is classified as terrorist, and Idlib will not stay under al-Nusra’s control, weather by negotiation, or by other ways”. Jamil stressed that “the problem of the Syrian Kurds will be resolved by inviting them to Geneva negotiations in order to make them share in the solution and in the formulation of the constitution.”

Source: Al Mayadeen

Translated by kassioun.org